The moments that make visitors want to see it all over again
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy traveled from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc with her mother and two younger sisters for a Vietnamese Women’s Day getaway on October 20. She chose to see Symphony of the Sea partly out of curiosity, wanting to find out whether the show was really as impressive as advertised.
After more than 20 minutes of performances, what stayed with her most were the grand fireworks displays and the spectacular routines by international jet-ski and Flyboard athletes.
“My experience genuinely exceeded expectations. It was even more visually spectacular and gripping than watching a Hollywood blockbuster,” Thanh Thuy said after the show.
The fireworks, lighting and performances on the water at Symphony of the Sea have been described by Travel + Leisure as a “visual signature” of Phu Quoc.
Beyond the large-scale spectacle, however, the moment that moved her most came when the familiar Vietnamese lullaby “Me yeu con,” or “Mother Loves Her Child,” began to play across the open sea, accompanied by kite flutes and flares.
In a show driven by international performers, high-speed action, lighting and fireworks, the familiar melody became an unexpectedly emotional anchor. For Thuy, it was also a way for international audiences to experience a glimpse of Vietnamese culture through performance art.
If the lullaby was what Thuy remembered most, French travelers Kevin and Julie were captivated by the way the performances blended with the nighttime seascape.
The couple heard about Symphony of the Sea from a local driver and arrived without knowing exactly what to expect.
“The show was absolutely incredible and magnificent. What impressed me most was the jet-ski performance combined with dazzling fireworks, especially the image of glowing butterfly wings flying through the night sky. The moment the fireworks burst overhead and reflected on the water felt almost magical. I have never seen a show this spectacular anywhere else in the world,” Julie recalled.
French visitors Kevin and Julie were particularly impressed by the jet-ski performances, fireworks and glowing “butterfly wings” in the night sky.
Before the show had even ended, the couple were already posting photos and videos on social media and sharing the experience with friends back home.
The movement in the air and across the water, together with the reflections of light on the sea, became images they wanted to preserve — and moments they wanted others to witness for themselves.
Visitors watch fireworks light up Phu Quoc’s night-time seascape from Sun Bavaria GastroPub, the world’s largest seaside beer restaurant.
For Luong Manh, a visitor from Bac Ninh, the fireworks finale was the most memorable part of the night.
Successive waves of fireworks erupted over the sea, while “trees of light” created by howling-wolf pyrotechnic effects left him and his friends wishing the experience could last a little longer, even after the show had ended.
“My friends and I have already talked about organizing another trip soon so we can come back to Phu Quoc and watch the show again,” Manh said.
The visitors’ reactions suggest that the appeal of Symphony of the Sea lies in very different moments for different people.
Some connect with the music. Others are drawn to the performers’ skills. Still others are won over by the sight of fireworks exploding above the open sea.
Each leaves with a different memory — and a different reason to want to experience the show again.
What are audiences hoping to see in season 3?
After learning that season 3 of Symphony of the Sea is scheduled to debut on November 10, Luong Manh said he hopes to see even more high-altitude fireworks.
Still impressed by the finale of the current production, he expects Phu Quoc’s night sky to deliver even bigger surprises the next time he sees the show.
Symphony of the Sea season 3 is expected to feature three times more fireworks and an expanded 200-meter water stage.
That is also one of the most significant changes planned for the new version.
According to the organizers, the amount of fireworks used each night will triple compared with the previous season. The pyrotechnic design will be created by Jiangxi Yangfeng Art Display, winner of the 2025 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, or DIFF.
The total performance area on the water will span 56,000 square meters. The floating fireworks platform will expand from 840 square meters to 3,000 square meters, while the stage itself will grow from 70 meters to 200 meters in length, creating more room for multiple layers of performance across the sea.
Kevin and Julie, meanwhile, would like to see more spaces where visitors can interact with live musicians around Kiss Bridge.
Based on their own experience, the couple hope the show’s energy can extend along the waterfront, giving visitors more opportunities to immerse themselves in the music rather than simply watching the main performance.
The jet-ski line-up at Symphony of the Sea will increase from 6 to 14.
For audiences such as Julie who enjoy extreme-sports performances, season 3 is also expected to bring even more movement across both the water and the sky.
The number of jet skis will rise from 6 to 14, while the Flyboard line-up will increase to eight. The expanded stage will also give performers more space to create larger formations and more complex coordinated routines.
For Thanh Thuy, however, the biggest question is what cultural story the new season will tell.
After being moved by the lullaby in the current production, she hopes the next version will continue to incorporate Vietnamese cultural elements into a show designed to appeal to international audiences.
“I’m very curious and excited to see what other interesting stories Sun Group will tell in the new season,” Thuy said.
Those expectations also set a challenge for the next edition: a bigger production will still need individual moments powerful enough to stay with audiences long after the show is over.
A promise to return to Phu Quoc may begin with a grand fireworks spectacle — but it can just as easily begin with a familiar melody unexpectedly drifting across the sea at night.
